They’re all faculty in Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of History and Anthropology, and they’re showing students that a social science degree leads to more than just teaching.  

In fact, students in this department have assisted in active forensic investigations to help identify human remains--you’ll find out which professor made that experience possible as you explore their published work below.  

You’ll find that our faculty are making meaningful contributions across the globe and right here in our region. Their work has been published in academic journals, books, and cultural publications, and it spans topics as wide-ranging as forensic anthropology, food culture, sports history, maritime exploration, rural life, and social justice. 

Their research doesn’t just stay on the page, it creates real opportunities for students. This depth of scholarship means SEMO students learn directly from experts who are actively shaping the fields they teach. Students build skills in research, analysis, communication, and critical thinking, tools that prepare them for careers in law, museum work, cultural resource management, public policy, historic preservation, international relations, forensics, and more. 

We’re proud to share just a few highlights of their recent publications. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT HISTORY & ANTHROPOLOGY

Dr. Jennifer Bengtson

“I regularly consult with local and regional law enforcement on cases involving human skeletal remains.” Dr. Bengtson has involved students in active efforts to help identify unidentified human remains through forensic casework. She also consults with law enforcement and provides guidance on cultural resource management in southeast Missouri. Dr. Bengtson’s research bridges the fields of archaeology and biological anthropology, with a focus on gender, childhood, and identity in past societies. She has conducted fieldwork across the Midwest and teaches forensic anthropology. 

Selected Publications: 

• "Genes, Race, Ancestry, and Identity in Forensic Anthropology: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Concerns" (2021) 

• "Women's Participation in Prehistoric Warfare: A Central Illinois River Valley Case Study" (2017) 

• "Alcoholism and Bone: Caveats and Considerations for the Forensic Anthropologist" (2016) 

Dr. Eric Clements 

Dr. Clements teaches courses in American history with special attention to material culture, museums, and the American West. His research spans mining, maritime history, and historical preservation. Through his work, he brings the past to life for students interested in how history is documented and remembered. 

Selected Publications: 

• "Captain of the Carpathia: The Seafaring Life of Titanic Hero Sir Arthur Henry Rostron" (2016) 

• “Looking for Laura: A Mining Camp Mystery” – Journal of the West (2023) 

Dr. Adam Criblez 

Dr. Criblez blends cultural history with public engagement, bringing experience as a former archivist, curator, and museum director into his teaching. His research covers everything from patriotic celebrations to the cultural history of the NBA and urban America. He currently serves as director of the Center for Regional History at SEMO. 

Selected Publications: 

• "Kings of the Garden: The New York Knicks and Their City" (2024) 

• "Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA" (2017) 

• “Pitching Patriotism: Fourth of July Baseball in the Late Nineteenth Century” – NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture (Fall/Spring, 2017/18) 

Dr. Yingkun Hou 

“I am a food anthropologist with a special interest in the sensory experience and cultural implications of tea and wine tasting.” With a background in wine education and translation, Dr. Hou specializes in food anthropology and the sensory experience of culture. Her research explores how taste, memory, and identity intersect—particularly through tea and wine traditions in China and the United States. 

Selected Publication: 

• "Tea Drinking in Everyday Life: From Tea Classes to Social Memory" – Yi Chan (2024) 

Dr. Courtney Kisat 

Dr. Kisat is a historian and educator with a passion for social studies pedagogy, rural American history, and gender studies. Her classroom focus on connection and engagement is grounded in her own research, which looks at how poverty and social issues are represented in history and media. 

Selected Publication: 

• “'The Language of Pictures: Images of Poverty in New Deal America' in The Representation of Poverty in Popular Culture: Essays" (2020)

The work you do in SEMO’s history and anthropology programs will prepare you for what comes next. From research and preservation to public service and helping communities tell their stories, you will gain the knowledge and experience needed to pursue meaningful work. Along the way, you’ll learn from faculty who are not only leading conversations in their fields but also deeply invested in your success. 

APPLY TO SEMO